“I am pleased that the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act, which passed the House in July, has now been introduced in the Senate, and I thank Senators Durbin, Kirk, and their bipartisan group of cosponsors for taking this important step today. With the rise in diagnoses of food allergies in children, we ought to make certain that our schools are equipped to save students’ lives in the event of an emergency.

“Anaphylaxis, the reaction that can occur seconds after exposure to an allergen, can cause death within minutes if emergency measures are not taken right away. In many cases, students are unaware of a food allergy until coming into contact with a deadly allergen – and are unprepared to handle an anaphylactic reaction on their own. Having epinephrine on hand will help schools prevent tragic and unnecessary loss of life. This bill will encourage schools to stock epinephrine and ensure staff are trained and authorized to use it in emergencies. As the grandfather of a child with food allergies, I was proud to introduce the House version of the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act along with Rep. Phil Roe. I hope the Senate will move quickly to advance our bill to the Floor and pass it with the same strong, bipartisan support it received in the House.”